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Mountain West wants to keep San Diego State like it did Boise State

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said Tuesday he expects a resolution of whether San Diego State will be in his league or the Big East soon, but added the school won't get the

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said Tuesday he expects a resolution of whether San Diego State will be in his league or the Big East soon, but added the school won't get the same deal as Boise State.

Thompson said the league's presidents would like to retain San Diego State, which was scheduled along with Boise State to join the Big East on July 1. Boise State announced it would remain in the league last week after negotiating a special deal. Thompson said San Diego State officials spent time Monday in the Mountain West offices at Colorado Springs, Colo., reviewing the league's updated TV contracts.

"They were just trying to understand what they would like," he said, "and then whether we could accommodate that or not."

Boise State's return came with concessions, including TV rights for their home football games. In addition, the Mountain West agreed to pay up to $3 million of Boise State's $5 million exit fee from the Big East. The league agreed to pay bonuses of $300,000-500,000 for national TV appearances and to award 50 percent of proceeds from participating in the Bowl Championship Series or its successor to the participating team.

"I think everybody understands Boise State is pretty unique," said Thompson after the conclusion of a meeting of Bowl Championship Series commissioners at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He added that San Diego State is "not gonna get the terms and conditions Boise State got, and they know that."

Big East commissioner Mike Aresco said he wasn't certain of San Diego State's path, or what his conference would do if the Aztecs chose the Mountain West.

"If San Diego State goes back, I think we will (look at getting back to 12 members) when Navy comes in," he said. "I wouldn't say (we will) categorically. Our guys may say we don't need a 12th."

Thompson said a quick resolution is essential in order to set the Mountain West's 2013 football schedule.

"Last week, we took a 10-team football schedule and tore it up," he said, referring to Boise State's return to the league. "I have no schedule. And before we do an 11-team schedule we ought to see if it's a 12-team schedule."

Thompson said if San Diego State gave the Mountain West 12 teams, the league would form two divisions and would play a conference championship game at a home site.